i134 complication

[123ny456 0]

My total income on my 2014 w2 and tax return is a couple thousand dollars short of the 125% of the poverty line. My employer pays for all my living expenses such as apartment, food, utilities.

How do I go about handling that? Would a letter from my employer stating that be sufficient enough?

[gw68ad78 64]

Do you report that as income on your taxes?

[Ash.1101 1,757]

What are you going to make this year? The Tax return is mainly used to show that you have a stable income and for reference purposes.

If you're going to make more money this year and meet the requirements now for CURRENT income, you should be fine. If you don't meet them, you will most likely be asked for a cosponsor, and you can also be asked for a cosponsor if they feel you are too close to the line. It's up to the Consulate Officer and how he feels about it.

Agree'd on if you claimed it on your return, but if you did and you're still under then it wouldn't matter. Basically the logic behind this is they can only take into consideration of what you claim to make, if you claimed these benefits, then it'll be on your tax return.

Also, what bills you have or don't have don't matter. The poverty line is based off gross income, not net income, so they consider the amount you make the same as someone who pays their rent because they're looking at what you make BEFORE bills. So you having bills paid and free housing has no effect on the income you make, they don't care how you spend or don't spend your money, they only care on how much you receive in your bank or what can be liquefied into cash.

It's easily possible for someone to make enough a year, blow it because of poor money management, but still bring someone into the country to struggle. There was a guy a few months back that had multiple credit cases against him for owing money, the fiance had heard about it at the interview the first time, and was still approved because he made enough yearly. The CO told her to talk to her fiance and decide if she really wants to marry him, if she does she can continue with the process, if she doesn't, she can just stay put.

Edited October 25, 2015 by Ash.1101

[123ny456 0]

Per my accountant I don't report it as income. My company reports it on their end as its a company expense.

With that said I'm a couple thousand dollars gross income short of the 125% above the poverty line on my 1090. If we counted what my company pays for me I would be over 350% of the poverty line.

So a letter from HR stating they pay X amount for my rent, bills, utilities would not help?

[Boiler 48,928]

So main benefit are lodging on company premises? You live on the job? Like say a sailor.